DELAWARE -A new bill in the Delaware General Assembly aims to better prepare high school students for the real-world financial challenges they’ll face after graduation. House Bill 203, known as the Equity and Inclusion in Financial Literacy for All High School Students in Delaware Act, would make a financial literacy course a mandatory part of high school education. It is sponsored by Long Neck's Jeff Hilovsky (District 4 -R)
If passed, the legislation would require all high schools in Delaware to offer at least a half-credit course in financial literacy. Beginning with 9th graders in the 2026–27 school year, students would need to complete the course in order to graduate.
Sponsors of the bill claim:
60 percent of U.S. households live paycheck to paycheck
40 percent of Americans have less than $300 in savings
33 percent of Americans have saved nothing for retirement
95 percent haven’t saved enough for retirement
87 percent of American teens say they don’t understand their finances
Bill sponsors say these numbers highlight the urgent need to teach students the fundamentals of money management before they leave school.
The course must align with financial literacy standards adopted by the Delaware Department of Education, ensuring consistency and quality across all public schools.